Useful Information-Information for au pairs

WHAT IS AN AU PAIR?
An Au Pair is a single person aged 17 to 27 years old, without dependants, who comes to the United Kingdom to learn English and live as part of an English speaking family for a maximum of two years, provided s/he is a national of a country in the EC.

Au Pair means ‘on par’ or equal and therefore is to be treated as a family member and not hired help.

• Pocket money
• Accommodation with own bedroom
• All meals

• Light household duties:
  making bed, washing up, dusting, hoovering, ironing, keeping the house tidy, preparing meals, cleaning the bathroom etc.
• Caring for the children:
  taking and collecting them from school, looking after them at home, preparing meals, taking them for walks and playing with them etc.

• work for approximately 25 hours per week
• baby-sit for 2-3 evenings per week
• have 2 full  free days per week
• be able to attend English language classes and religious services if s/he wishes (fees to be paid by the Au Pair).

A demi pair will work approximately 15 hours per week;  an Au pair plus – 36 hours;  a mother’s help or nanny – up to 60 hours.  This is a guideline which may be altered to suit individual circumstances.  The hours of work are based on a 5 day working week.  Families may want you to split your working hours between the morning and the afternoon.  Split hours should never prohibit you from attending English language classes.  Please be flexible with the hours that you work, in order to make a better relationship with you host family.

HOUSE RULES
Each family has different rules and priorities.  It helps if you listen and write down the things which are important e.g. who gets priority in the bathroom in the morning; what time you are expected home; who to contact in an emergency.

BABY-SITTING
In accordance with the Home Office guidelines, Au pairs and Au pair Plus may baby-sit 2 evenings per week.  If you agree to baby-sit more often or to work extra hours, a fee of at least £2.50 per hour can be expected.

FREE TIME
All applicants are entitled to two full free days each week.  You can expect this to be in two twenty four hour periods, which should not be cancelled by the family, except in an emergency. and with your agreement

HEALTH
Reciprocal health arrangements exist between most EC countries and Britain.  You can register with your host family’s doctor.  You may find that living and working in a foreign country rather more difficult than you imagined and you may feel homesick.  Please be patient.  It will take a little time to settle in and become used to a different way of life.  Most Au pairs really enjoy their time in Britain.

SOCIAL LIFE
Ask your host family if you may bring your friends back to the house. You cannot expect to bring your friends home without permission.  Ask other au pairs in your English classes for information on local clubs etc. that may be of interest to you.  Your host family may be able to help you with this.

ENGLISH LESSONS
English lessons are available at colleges or with private tutors.  Your host will help you to find classes.

SMOKING
You are expected to respect your host family’s wishes with regards to smoking in their home or when you are with their children.

USE OF TELEPHONE
Do not use the host family’s telephone unless you receive their permission.  All telephone calls are itemised on the customer’s bill.  Phone cards for public telephones are available from newsagents and post offices.

TRAVEL
You are expected to pay the cost of your journey to and from your home country.  The host family will meet you at the airport on your arrival and take you to the airport on your return journey.  It is your responsibility to inform the family of your travel details.  Please ensure that travel arrangements are understood by both parties.  It is amazing how misunderstandings arise.  At the airport look out for the family holding a notice with your name written on it.

If you are a non EC national entering the UK for a period exceeding 6 months you will usually have to register with the police, the fee being approx. £35, which you are expected to pay.  The immigration officials at the airport will explain this to you.  Ask the family for help with this.

POCKET MONEY per week
Demi Pair:         £40
Au Pair:             £60
Au Pair Plus:      £75
These amounts may vary from family to family.

FURTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER
All meals may be taken with your host family, even on your free days.  Please be on time for meals, help to clear away the dishes if you have eaten with the family and always ask before helping yourself to extra food. When working around the house, ask, if you are not sure what to do or what is expected of you.

It is not acceptable for you to wear your night clothes around the house
Do not forget to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.  English people consider it impolite not to do so.  Remember that a smile helps to make good relationships.    Most British people take a bath or shower at least once a day. Please keep yourself and your clothes clean.  If for any reason you are unable to resolve difficulties with your host family, please telephone us and we will make every effort to mediate on your behalf.  Please do not pack your bags and leave without first speaking with us.  Your own family will be worried if you leave without a forwarding address.  Should a problem arise concerning homelessness, we will be pleased to offer advice but are unable to offer accommodation.
In case of an emergency. please ensure that you have enough money to pay foryour return ticket to your home country

2. INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES
INTRODUCTION
Au pairs are single people, aged 17 – 27 years, without dependants, who come from Europe and any one of the countries listed below, to learn English and live as part of an English speaking family.

Andorra, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Monaco, Greenland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malta, Romania, San Marino, Slovak, Turkey, Slovenia, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Bulgaria

Au pairs may stay for a maximum period of 2 years unless they are nationals of countries in the European Community.  Au pair translates as ‘on par’ or equal and therefore s/he is to be treated as a family member.  All au pairs must have their own bedroom.

An Au pair is not a trained nanny, housekeeper or domestic servant. You can search this site for housekeepers

HOURS AND DUTIES PER WEEK

A description of duties and work schedule will be required from the family before the applicant agrees to accept the placement.  This is a safeguard for both parties.  The total number of hours per week should not be exceeded unless agreed by the Au pair.  We do ask that our Au pairs are flexible in their approach to the work schedule while at the same time expect the same consideration from our families.  The hours of work can be split between a morning and afternoon shift.  Split hours should never prohibit the Au pair from attending booked English classes.

EXTRA HOURS/BABY-SITTING
An additional pocket money of £3.00 per hour must be paid for hours worked above the contracted hours agreed.  It is always helpful if the Au pair is given prior notice of the evening s/he is required to baby-sit.  This enables the Au pair to arrange her/his social life.

FREE TIME
According to the Home Office Ruling, all applicants are entitled to 2 full free days each week. 
This must be in two 24 hour periods which should not be cancelled or altered, other than in emergency and with the au pairs agreement.

HEALTH
Au pairs should be registered with the family doctor.  Reciprocal health arrangements exist between most EC countries.  Should the Au pair be taken ill, the family must provide full board accommodation until the Au pair recovers or in the unfortunate case of long term illness, until the appropriate arrangements have been made for her/his return home.

INSURANCE
It is recommended that you check the conditions of your home insurance policy to cover personal liability insurance.

TRAVEL
The Au Pair will be expected to pay the cost of the journey to and from the country in which s/he will be staying.  It is your responsibility to meet her/him at the airport on arrival and to take her/him to the airport on the return journey.  Please ensure that travel arrangements are understood by both parties.  It is amazing how misunderstandings can arise.  At the airport or coach station  families should  have a notice on which the Au pair’s name is clearly printed and a pre-arranged meeting point agreed.  At the airport and the stations it can be the Information Desk but please check how many Information desks there are by telephoning the airport/station and then agree a specific one.  Please remember flights/coaches & trains can be delayed, so please make allowances for this, Perhaps telephone the point of arrival to check the the arrival time
The following are useful websites for travel information
www.greenline.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.nationalexpress.com
Non EC nationals entering the UK for a period exceeding 6 months will have to register with the local police, the fee being approx. £35, which should be paid by the Au Pair. You should contact your local police station for guidance.

INDUCTION
Au pairs may initially find living and working in a foreign country is rather more difficult than expected.  Many are away from home, alone, for the first time.  For many of them, language is the first barrier to overcome.  Further, they are living in an environment with a family whose routine, culture, religious practices, diet and mealtimes are often totally different from that which they are used to.  They may be homesick at first.  Please allow for this.  Many will need patience, understanding and support.

HOUSE RULES
Every family has different rules and priorities.  It helps to explain and write down the things which are important to your family i.e. who gets priority in the bathroom in the morning; use of the telephone; what time the au pair is expected to be home; if the au pair is allowed visitors in her/his room etc. 

SOCIAL LIFE
Au pairs tend to settle more easily and overcome homesickness once they have met other au pairs and made friends.  This is another reason why English classes are so important.  You are welcome to phone us to enquire if we have placed other au pairs in your area.  It is essential to give your au pair an A-Z of your town or city, also maps and timetables of the local bus, train and underground.  Please take time to familiarise your au pair with this information.

CLUBS FOR AU PAIRS
Look in the local newspapers, shop notice boards and the supermarket community board and take note of any clubs or societies that may be of interest to a young person.  Take your au pair along to join the library.  While there, ask the librarian for a copy of the list of clubs in the area.  A list of Mother and Toddler Clubs can be obtained from the Social Services at the Town Hall.  If necessary, take the au pair along on the first visit and introduce her to young mums/other au pairs.  Find time to discover what clubs are available for your children/toddlers/babies during the day.  Your family will enjoy these excursions and activities.
                                                                                                                            
ENGLISH LESSONS
English lessons are generally available at local colleges or with private tutors.  Your local newspapers and libraries are good sources for this information.  Au pairs usually need some assistance in finding the school and with the registration process.  Please act as their ‘mother’ by ensuring that their classes are up to a good standard and are of good value.  Au pairs are responsible for their own fees unless you have agreed another arrangement beforehand.

CONTACT NUMBERS/EMERGENCIES
It is essential that your Au pair knows how to contact you at all times.  Give her/him a list of contact numbers e.g. work, grandparents, doctors, school, friends, neighbours etc.  S/he must be shown how to dial all the emergency services.  There may be first aid and child care courses available at your local colleges.  Any course fees would be your responsibility but such courses would be of great benefit to your family.  Ensure that your first aid box is fully stocked and your au pair knows what each item is used for.

DRIVING
You will appreciate that your au pair will requires a little time and help to become acclimatised to driving in a foreign country, on the opposite side of the road, with the road signs in a different language, not forgetting our hectic roads.  If a lesson or two could be provided to give the au pair the initial confidence to drive in this country, you and your family will benefit.  If you are making a car available to the au pair, it is your responsibility to verify the driving competence of the
au pair and to ensure s/he has a full current driving license.  It is worth considering taking out fully comprehensive insurance cover for the car that the au pair will be driving.  The au pair cannot be held responsible for any costs if involved in an accident.

FURTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Should you leave your au pair in sole charge of your children, it is advisable to discuss with her/him, beforehand, the extent of her/his authority over them.
• All applicants are entitled to eat their meals with their host family, even on their free days.
• If you do not want the au pair to use your telephone, show her/him where the nearest public telephone is and where to buy phone cards.  International call barring is available from your telephone service provider at a small cost.

With mutual understanding and co-operation both the host family and the au pair should benefit from the relationship
If the au pair is to have sole charge of a young child or baby, then it is important that this is detailed on the family membership form, and that the au pair has appropriate childcare skills.

First Aid
Please remember that au pairs are not qualified child carers and may not necessarily have a First Aid certificate or experience. If you feel that you would like your au pair to have further knowledge about First Aid please refer to these sites: www.sja.org.uk , www.redcross.org.uk and www.safe-and-sound.org.uk

Police registration
An au pair’s passport will be stamped upon arrival in the UK if he/she needs to register with the police. This is a legal requirement and must be adhered to within 7 days of the au pair’s arrival.

Holidays
In order to calculate holiday entitlement we suggest that you visit the Business Link web site.

Insurance
It is not a legal requirement for au pairs to arrive with or maintain any insurance. Please consult a professional insurance advisor for further information regarding steps you might consider taking in relation to cars, property, belongings, liabilities, etc.

Medical
For medical and dental treatment, please contact your own doctor and dentist. It is advisable to register the au pair with these practices upon arrival in the UK. Useful information explaining the rights of visitors wishing to use the NHS can be found at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/health/nhs_charges_for_
people_from_abroad.htm.